Captain Hugo Ekitike and a Three-Pronged Gunners Backline – The Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week
The quantity of The Reds selections are you able to accommodate in your lineup for this round?
Jurgen Klopp's side have secured back-to-back wins and boast a sizzling striker in Hugo Ekitike preparing for a encounter with Wolves that are tracking for an abysmal Premier League campaigns in history.
Should you have kept a portion of your Africa Cup of Nations free transfers , and possess the cash to reinvest following the injury to the injured Bruno Fernandes, then Liverpool players must be your top priority.
This ideal squad is assembled using present Fantasy Premier League valuations to comply with a £100m spending limit, as if using a Free Hit chip.
How Did The Previous Selection?
Captain Erling Haaland (a massive haul) and the productive duo of Bournemouth's forward (10 points) plus Liverpool's frontman led the team to a respectable score – with a bonus a 10-point performance from Fulham's defender from the replacements.
The FPL Ideal Squad for Matchday 18
Keeper & Defence
David Raya, Arsenal, goalkeeper, £6m – vs Brighton (H).
The North London side's backline had a minor wobble following an injury to Gabriel, but they have kept two clean sheets recently , with nine already with less than the campaign's midpoint played.
Mikel Arteta's side have let in goals in just a handful of fixtures at the Emirates campaign. The strikes they conceded were scored by Erling Haaland, a wondrous effort from Richarlison , plus a unexpected header from Wolves' attacker.
Jurrien Timber (£6.5m) & Piero Hincapie (£5.5m), the Gunners – vs Brighton (H).
It's a triple selection on the Arsenal defence.
As well as being the strongest defence in FPL, with a clean sheet in more than half of their matches, they face a Roberto De Zerbi's team who have failed to score in their last two outings.
Brighton have only managed 9 goals from eight matches on the road.
The Dutch defender continues to be a solid option each gameweek , possessing increased attacking upside since returning to right-back.
Hincapie has earned 'defcon' points in his past four starts, featuring a pair of shutouts.
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool, £5.9m – vs Wolves (H).
I'd pick six Liverpool players this week if the rules permitted.
Gary O'Neil's team were shut out for the tenth occasion this season in Saturday's 2-0 home loss to the Bees.
They have a paltry nine strikes all season, with only two on the road. It represents a very secure shutout bet available.
Omar Alderete, Sunderland, £4m – vs Leeds (H).
Even with the Yorkshire club's improved offensive form – and the form of their striker – the pick is a Sunderland shutout at home.
It would be a third consecutive and Alderete becoming a prime low-cost defender option. Managers can start him with assurance in most games, thanks to his consistent defensive contribution points.
Midfielders
Mason Mount, Manchester United, £5.9m – vs Newcastle United (H).
Mount is expected to take on a key part at Old Trafford over the coming fixtures, due to Bruno Fernandes being sidelined.
In their last three matches, United boast the greatest xG in the league by a significant margin – 8.78 compared to second-best Leeds United's 5.68.
They face a Newcastle United team who have struggled in away matches – with just one win in seven.
Mount could well assume a large share of Fernandes' creative responsibilities, particularly from dead-ball situations, and could play in the number 10 role.
Florian Wirtz, Liverpool, £8.1m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Wirtz is poised for a significant score and a fixture at Anfield versus Wolves representing an ideal time for that to happen.
He has posted points across four recent games – two assists plus a 'defcon' display.
During that spell he has created 10 chances, a team-high among all Liverpool, and his expected goals is 0.88.
Morgan Rogers, Aston Villa, £7.2m – vs the Blues (A).
With 30 points across two gameweeks, Rogers' form demands attention.
He is Aston Villa's talisman, capable of scoring a goal with half a yard of room inside the area.
An away trip at Stamford Bridge might seem a tough proposition, but Villa have emerged victorious at that ground in two of the last three campaigns.
Forwards
Hugo Ekitike (Captain), Liverpool, £8.9m – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).
Due to his fixture, having no competition for a starting spot, coupled with bagged five goals over three matches, the French striker receives the captain's armband for this round.
Erling Haaland, City, £15.1m – vs Forest (A).
It is unthinkable to benching Haaland, but with him having a more difficult away game this week, I'm willing to pass over him for captaincy.
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham, £7.6m